Backslapping Liberal Democrats are celebrating St Albans’ Draft Local Plan entering the final stage of the national planning inspection process, but they have been met with condemnation from rival politicians. The district currently has one of the oldest Local Plans in the country, leaving the countryside vulnerable to speculative developments. But now...
Pundits are predicting a close-run result for St Peter’s ward in May’s district council elections, with website Pollcheck saying the margin may be too close to call between the Liberal Democrats and the Greens. We speak to the main contenders vying for victory: Sean Hughes and Sally Leonard...
Just weeks before the crucial May elections, St Albans Liberal Democrats have been dealt a devastating blow from one of their own. Harpenden East district councillor Dason Canning has resigned from the party to become an Independent, citing damning reasons behind his departure. Meanwhile, Sharon Hollingsworth and Steve Cavinder have stepped down...
Fun-starved councillors at SADC have come up with a creative new strategy to enable free parking for visitors to central St Albans and Harpenden. Kicking off today, their innovative ‘Larking for Parking’ scheme will enable anybody parking in full fancy dress to avoid paying the unpopular on-street parking fees. A spokesperson for...
Council bosses have been left redfaced after dozens of copies of their own newsletter were found flytipped just outside the district. Numerous editions of SADC's Community News were found by litter pickers on the Kimpton Road over the weekend. Local councillor Ralph Muncer said: "Brilliant to join over 50 people at the...
Is St Albans seeing a shift in the balance of power as residents grow increasingly dissatisfied with both local and national politics? In last May’s county council elections, Reform UK came second in the divisions of St Albans East, North and South and St Stephen’s, beating the Conservatives in each area. Elsewhere...
A Green Party candidate standing in May's district council elections was on the frontline of their successful by-election win in Gorton and Denton. Livvy Gibbs, who is standing in Clarence ward, said she will be bringing her experiences in Greater Manchester back to the campaign trail here in St Albans. She explained:...
Amendments to the district council's annual budget put forward by St Albans Conservative group are "fantasy finance", says SADC leader Cllr Paul de Kort. Opposition groups are given the opportunity to cost out their own budget as part of the review process, which sets out the council's finances for 2026/2027, and...
After years of uncertainty, it has finally been confirmed that city’s iconic Alban Arena is no longer under threat of demolition and is definitely here to stay. That was the top line takeaway from SADC leisure lead Cllr Helen Campbell at a catch-up looking at the district’s sports and theatre offering. The...
Whether SADC will proceed with long-delayed capital development projects three years after they were placed on hiatus has now been revealed. In 2023, St Albans district council carried out a strategic review of its major development projects in light of difficult economic conditions facing the authority at the time. A report on...
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